The AI dash cam (dashboard camera) is a single or dual-facing 4K camera installed into fleet vehicles to analyze road conditions and driver behavior to reduce distracted driving and collisions through driver alerts. A dual-facing camera allows fleets to analyze events inside the vehicle, besides just events on the road.
Dashcam Triggers
Drivers are a fleet’s greatest resource, so integrating an AI dashcam keeps drivers safe and productive while on the road. The dashcam captures the video to provide managers with insightful data to mitigate in-cab and on-road risks, including:
- Yawning
- Using phone
- Smoking
- Asleep
- Drowsiness
- No seatbelt
- Tailgating
- Harsh driving
- Lane detection
- Forward collision
- Stop sign violation
- Pedestrian detection
- Speeding
The proper dash camera should record a close-up view of the driver so the camera can accurately detect when drivers are performing any alarming behaviors. Managers go into their AI dashcam programming to set the minimum speed, repeat interval, and detection delay where they believe the behavior is a reason for concern. Wherever a driver triggers the camera, managers will be alerted in real time, and data will be retrieved, so managers can later coach their drivers.
Preventable alerts
For even better results, fleets should ensure their camera sends in-cab audio notifications to drivers whenever they exhibit risk behaviors and conditions. In-cab alerts coach drivers proactively since it enables them to immediately modify their behaviors and reduce the chances of an accident. The preventable alerts help create a safety culture within a fleet making drivers accountable for their actions and correcting them.
Coaching drivers
When you are operating a fleet, there is no way you can go back and view an entire day’s worth of video for each driver. Managers can run reports on events and trends to address any areas of concern. After running a report, managers can view any upticks in behaviors to understand which drivers are performing above the fleet’s trending rate. Leveraging video evidence helps when disciplinary action is required, but if done improperly, it can cause tension between managers and drivers. Managers and drivers can replay the footage to discuss why the behavior was a safety risk and develop a plan to correct the behavior long term. Recognizing positive and negative behavior can further reinforce safety awareness, so gathering recordings of good driver behaviors to boost morale and driver retention.
Going beyond behavior
Organizations may believe a dashcam’s sole purpose is to protect their drivers and vehicles, but they can also protect them legally. Video evidence can help protect your fleet from false accusations after an incident. Even if your driver is at fault in an accident, the dashcam video can save your fleet unnecessary costs. “When it comes to accidents, the insurance company wants to know if they’re at fault or not at fault. If they are not at fault, they can go after the person that is at fault for more money, things like that in the lawsuit. If they are at fault, it tells them they need to settle quickly and settle right away to not drag it out because they end up spending less money over time,” said AssetWorks FSS Product Manager Phil Arsenault.
Who should not get an AI dashcam?
No industry would not benefit from improving driver and vehicle safety, but those who are dealing with retention should think before implementing the new technology. Even though there is evidence the product benefits the driver and employer, drivers may take offense to being monitored- something those with low retention cannot risk. Cities have used cameras in buses and paratransit for years, so those drivers are more likely to accept the technology.
An AI dashcam can help reduce costs, improve relationships between drivers and managers, and create a safety culture in fleets.
